Monday, February 16, 2015

What Are Dental Implants?

Dental implants offer people an alternative to the traditional ways of replacing missing teeth. The actual implant is an artificial root [anchor] made from synthetic material, usually titanium metal. There are three phases to the implant process.

First, the dental implant is surgically placed into the jawbone. It takes 3-6 months to fuse with the bone [called osseointegration]. An abutment [post] is attached to the implant and protrudes above the gum tissue. A replacement restoration is cemented or screwed to the implant abutment. Depending on the situation, dental implants can support a fixed crown or bridge or act as a stabilizing base for a full denture. The procedure can take up to 9-12 months for completion and has a high degree of success.

Some individuals have had so much bone resorption [loss] that the remaining bony ridge is too thin to hold an implant. In many cases, synthetic or natural bone can be grafted [added] or grown to allow for dental implants as an alternative treatment.

Implants have a great advantage for people already wearing full dentures since they can support and stabilize the denture while minimizing further bone loss of the denture ridge.

Not everyone is a good candidate for dental implants. There are certain risk factors that may limit success including smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, chronic bruxism [grinding teeth], systemic problems such as diabetes and individuals with poor oral hygiene.

Dental implants offer a “second chance” to those who have lost all of their teeth. For people missing only one or several teeth, dental implants provide benefits as an alternative way to restore your mouth. To determine if implants are for you, a clinical examination, x-rays, study casts and other appropriate records and measurements will be necessary. Call our office at (757) 229-1224 if you have questions or would like to schedule an implant exam.

Monday, February 2, 2015

Preventing Tooth Decay

Tooth decay [caries, cavities] is probably the most prevalent disease, affecting almost everyone during his or her lifetime. The good news is that it isn’t life threatening and is essentially preventable. The tooth decay process starts with dental plaque [sticky mixture of bacteria, food & debris]. Bacteria [germs], which naturally live in everyone’s mouth, but thrive in plaque, utilize carbohydrates from your diet, especially refined sugar [sucrose] to produce acid. Acid, if produced frequently, will demineralize [dissolve] the tooth enamel structure, which is the hardest substance in the human body. From there the acid will continue to eat through the underlying dentin layer until the bacteria and their waste products reach the pulp [nerve]. Left untreated, tooth decay can lead to root infection and eventually loss of your tooth.

There are visible signs of a cavity. Initially, it will appear as a small white spot, which in time will turn brown. As the decay continues, a hole in the tooth may become apparent. There are also warning symptoms such as sensitivity while brushing or to hot or cold foods or to breathing in air. Of course a painful toothache is a definite sign.

Prevention

The most important prevention technique is daily removal of plaque with flossing and brushing. If possible, good oral hygiene should be practiced after every meal.

Using fluoride to strengthen the enamel and help remineralize teeth is a highly reliable prevention tool. Use only a fluoride, ADA recommended toothpaste. At our office, we give topical fluoride treatment to children up to age 18. We can also fabricate custom trays to be used at home with a gel fluoride for adults who have rampant caries or who are more predisposed to having tooth decay. We also recommend fluoride drops or vitamins for infants who don’t live where the public water supply is fluoridated. Call our office to see if your water is fluoridated. Diet is significant in caries prevention. . Studies have shown that the nature and frequency of sugar intake is more important that the amount. If the sugary food is very sticky like caramel, gummy bears or jam, it will remain on the teeth for a longer period of time. If you or your children are constantly snacking on sugary foods, there is a continuous acid attack on your teeth. What do we do to prevent this potential problem? Avoid having sugar in your mouth for long periods of time. Stay away from sucking candies and chewing gum [unless sugarless] and refrain from drinking soda pop regularly [unless diet]. Try to cut down on the number of snacks per day. If you must snack, substitute foods that most like but don’t promote tooth decay. Examples are popcorn, pretzels, fruits, nuts, cheese, pizza and vegetables. Consuming sugary foods with a meal or for dessert has a less detrimental effect, because increased salivary flow during meals helps to wash the food away. Also, it is usually nearer the time that most people will brush their teeth. Keeping this in mind, it is better for children to eat sweets at a time and place that allows them to brush soon afterwards. As your children are growing, make sure they get plenty of calcium [dairy products] so that their tooth enamel develops properly. Finally, because you may be asymptomatic and unaware of the beginning of tooth decay, it is critical that you visit our office every 6 months for a check-up. Some cavities are hard to detect, especially those between the teeth. Sometimes, only bitewing x-rays can discover them. We will also give you a professional prophylaxis [cleaning], which is an important part of prevention.

Tuesday, January 13, 2015

One Gorgeous Smile with LUMINEERS

No other veneer option is as versatile!

When it comes to improving your appearance, it's crucial to have freedom of choice. However, many smile makeover options, including traditional veneers, leave patients with irreversible loss of tooth structure, Chiclet-like teeth, and sometimes pain and discomfort. Now, painless LUMINEERS® offers incredible versatility creating a smile that is perfect for every individual.

Whether re-shaping worn and chipped teeth or creating a straighter, more uniform smile, revolutionary LUMINEERS® has changed the face of dentistry. By dramatically transforming a smile in the most minimally invasive way, LUMINEERS® is the only veneer procedure that preserves and protects natural teeth whenever possible, so that the process is virtually painless - even a post-procedure aspirin is unnecessary.

The exceptionally thin LUMINEERS® [width of a contact lens] leaves original teeth in tact, and the process is reversible. Traditional veneers require the removal of sensitive tooth structure, often shaving or grinding down teeth. Consequences of such tooth reduction can sometimes cause the death of tooth pulp, causing the need for a root canal procedure.

Without the need for local anesthesia, LUMINEERS® offers a painless and permanent smile enhancement option. Since the process is so simple and gentle, the sensitivity usually felt after a traditional veneer procedure is eliminated, making even an aspirin unnecessary.

LUMINEERS® provides instant teeth straightening and permanent whitening. It is a convenient substitute for braces and other orthodontics. The procedure may also be used on worn teeth to strengthen them and prevent further wear. LUMINEERS® can even be placed over crowns to improve esthetics and help rejuvenate a smile. A LUMINEERS® procedure is so versatile, it can even be used on cases that require some tooth structure removal for desired esthetic results. All LUMINEERS® come with a 5-year warranty.

LUMINEERS® can only be made from Cerinate porcelain, an innovative porcelain, crafted through a proprietary process unavailable anywhere other than Den-Mat Corporation. LUMINEERS® creates a custom-made smile clinically proven to last up to 20 years. LUMINEERS® is the best of both worlds - ultra thin, yet super strong for a radiant smile that resists any micro-cracking, which can damage restorations.

If you think you may be a candidate for this procedure, call our office at (757) 229-1224 to set up an appointment.

About Me

With over 20 years of creating smiles, we are proud to provide gentle, family-oriented dental care to the adults and children of our community. We are located in Williamsburg, just minutes from York county, Toano, Denbigh/Newport News and surrounding areas.